Weird shape?

B

beazer

First Instar
I'm not sure if this is normal? Keep in mind I am kind of a roach newb... but I just bought a colony of dubia about 1 or 2 months ago. I had to split them up into several colonies because there are almost 1,000 adults and thousands of numphs. I noticed there are matured dubia (or atleast have the coloration and shine to them as adult) that are females an very thin, flat, and rather circular. I found a few nymphs like this as well. Out of paranoia, I removed all the strange shaped ones. Is this normal or should they be culled? I also have just added in a few males, females, and nymphs to each container from different colonies to help with "new blood". Thanks!

-Jon DeLong

 
Thin and flat might mean they are either recently molted and/or hungry. They might also stretch out a bit after they bulk up a bit more. Sometimes people confuse subadult females with adults. I don't think there is anything wrong with culling the herd. I assume you're raising them as feeders anyway, since that's one of the only reasons to have that many roaches. Rather than separate them, simply feed them off??

 
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I'll probably feed them off to some friends' animals. I originally had these because I worked with monitors, then school came around and I didn't have time for them. I still kept the colony around for a few geckos, tarantulas, and incase I ever did decide to get back into monitors. Well, needless to say, without the monitors there to eat them they are breeding like rabbits on viagra. Thanks for the reply!

-Jon DeLong

 
Sounds like sub-adults. I have some over an inch long and still just look like giant nymphs. flattened and round instead of bulky and elongated.

 
Dubia Dynasty said:
Sounds like sub-adults. I have some over an inch long and still just look like giant nymphs. flattened and round instead of bulky and elongated.
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They said they are shiny and no mention of wings, only adult females are shiny, nymphs lack the shine so I think its just a recently molted female and once she eats more her abdomen will change shape and become fatter.

 
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